'Cornerstone of her school': Spanish teacher Anne Maguire, 61, who was stabbed to death on Monday at the school where she worked, Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds

A schoolboy of 15 has been charged with the murder of Spanish teacher Ann Maguire who was allegedly stabbed to death in her classroom.

The schoolboy was arrested on Monday and has been questioned by detectives in the wake of Mrs Maguire's death.

The suspect is due to appear at Leeds Youth Court tomorrow and at Leeds Crown Court for a bail hearing on Friday, according to prosecutors.

The news comes as thousands of tributes to the teacher continue to pour in from pupils, teachers and wellwishers from around the world, including Pope Francis.

Headteacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, Steve Mort, has said the school had been 'overwhelmed by the amazing outpouring of love and affection for Ann'.

Mrs Maguire, 61, was allegedly stabbed to death in front of her Spanish class on Monday.

The school - where she taught for 40 years and was weeks from retirement - has been surrounded by flowers, card and other tributes.

Mrs Maguire - described today as 'simply the best' by past and present students - died in 'a truly shocking and appalling tragedy', Prime Minister David Cameron said today.

Pope Francis has also expressed his 'sincere sympathy' to her family conveyed by the Vatican's Ambassador to Britain.

Students have also been writing messages on the school's railings, likely to form part of a permanent tribute to Mrs Maguire,
who was killed on her day off after coming in to help students prepare
for the exams.

The floral and other tributes now cover a 164ft (50m) length of the school fence.

Standing
outside the school gates with colleagues, including his assistant Kieran Sykes, who tackled the alleged killer, Mr Mort said: 'I want to say on
behalf of the pupils, the staff and the governors and of the school that
we are overwhelmed by the amazing outpouring of love and affection for
Ann from the local community, from friends of the school past and
present and from colleagues across the city.

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Pictured: The schoolboy arrested in connection with the murder of Ann Maguire appeared in court yesterday

Emotional: A Corpus Christi student lays flowers among the hundreds of bouquets running along the school's railings today

Students have been queuing up to write on the railings in permanent pen as well as leaving flowers, notes, cards and other tributes

Strength in numbers: The majority of students have chosen to come to school despite the killing in one of their classrooms

Messages: Pupils are using markers to write messages on the railings of the school as a more permanent tribute to the much-loved teacher

Memorial: Amanda Gledhill, a former pupil of Corpus Christi Catholic College, pauses for thought alongside some of the hundreds of tributes

Old students have left flowers and notes telling of their time with Mrs Maguire over her 40 years at the school

Among the flowers are many pictures and other tributes to the teacher killed on Monday

HERO TEACHER LAYS FLOWERS

The teacher who wrestled to the ground the teenager accused of killing Ann Maguire laid flowers at the school gates today.

Assistant headteacher at Corpus Christi Catholic College Kieran Sykes, right, had rushed towards the classroom where the 61-year-old died after hearing screams.

Witnesses said that as he entered the corridor he faced Mr Sykes who grabbed him and pulled him to ground.

The suspect was pinned down until the police arrived.

Today Mr Sykes spent around 15 minutes reading some of the hundreds of messages along with head Andy Mort, deputy head Cath Bielby, and fellow assistant head Andy Kellett.

'Over
the past 48 hours we have drawn an incredible amount of strength and
comfort from all the amazing tributes and messages of sympathy and
support that we have received from right across the country and, indeed,
the world.

'I am
immensely proud to be headteacher at Corpus Christi. Our children have
proven themselves to be great ambassadors for the school. And I want to
pay particular tribute to them and to the professionalism and dedication
demonstrated by our staff at this very difficult time.'

Mrs Maguire was working on her day off when she was stabbed to death and begged students to flee the classroom.

The 61-year-old was only in work for 45 minutes on Monday when she was attacked.

She had told her husband Don, 62, she could not spend the day with him at home because she wanted to help students prepare for their exams.

The popular Spanish
teacher was also in her last term before retiring from full-time work at
the school where she spent her entire 40-year career.

One teenager said: 'Mrs Maguire was
screaming at the kids in the class telling them to get out because she
didn't want them to see what was happening.'

This evening, Peter Mann, head of the
Crown Prosecution Service for Yorkshire and Humberside Complex Casework Unit, said that the teacher's family had been told that the suspect had been charged.

He said in a statement: 'The family of
Mrs Maguire have been informed of this decision and they will be
offered a meeting to explain the trial process and answer any questions
they may have.'

Hero: Assistant head Kieran Sykes, who wrestled the 15-year-old suspect to the ground, walked to see the sea of flowers yesterday

Upsetting: Mr Mort was moved as he read some of the the hundreds of tributes left in honour of his colleague

There forever: This message in permanent pen reflects the strength of
feeling from students, past and present, after the death of Ann Maguire
as long a tie and crucifix left at the gates

Heartfelt: Pupils past and present flocked to the school gates to leave their own tributes to the teacher

Emotional: The notes reveal how students felt about the inspirational teacher and what she did for others

Ciara Harley: Such an inspiration to so many people. You touched the lives of so many students past and present. Thoughts and prayers go out to your family, friends and all you taught. You will be missed'

Great loss: The community in Leeds has felt the loss of the teacher keenly and many are struggling to come to terms with her death

Tribute to a 'good and lovely person': This note sent thoughts and prayers to Mrs Maguire's family

Poignant: Rosary beads hang next to messages written outside the Catholic school today

Sketch: A drawing outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in Leeds, after much loved teacher Anne Maguire was stabbed to death in front of her pupils on Monday

Much-loved: Flowers run more than 150 metres along the school's main fence and is still growing

A school jumper and tie hang on the fence to outside Corpus Christi Catholic College in tribute to Ann Maguire

Notes left by students, teachers and members of the community commemorated the 'truly inspirational teacher', who lost her life 'in the most tragic way'.

Upsetting: As they still digest the news friends hug at the gates of the college yesterday

One note said: 'You made our year 11 experience truly amazing. You taught us things we will never forget. If every tear we shed for you became a star above you'll stroll in heaven's garden full of everlasting love.'

Another said: 'it's really not fair for it to end like this. I can't get it round my head that you have gone.'

The message added: 'Just this morning you was [sic] saying jokes and laughing. You were one of the best teachers I have ever had and this is hard for everyone.'

Another message simply said: 'You make us into the people we are today'.

Earlier today detectives had asked for more time to question the 15-year-old boy over the murder.

The whole class of 30 teenagers saw the alleged stabbing and many of them stayed at home with their families yesterday.

Mrs Maguire had been
standing by the desk of teenager Holly Walker when the alleged attack happened. The 16-year-old's mother Clare
told the Mail: 'Holly was so close that she had blood all over her and she said she thought she was going to be killed too.

'She was so traumatised by it all and she ran out of the classroom trying to find help.'

Sue
Francis, who was taking a class nearby, rushed to find out what was
happening. A pupil said: 'She ran in after hearing the screams but it
was too late and Mrs Maguire just fell into her arms.'

The suspect is said to have fled into the corridor where he was grabbed by Kieran Sykes, an assistant headteacher.

Paramedics and police arrived within
minutes but could not save Mrs Maguire's life. A post-mortem examination
confirmed she died of multiple injuries.

The suspect's older brother was taught by Mrs Maguire - and was said to be close to her.

Police
have refused to discuss details of the investigation or what they believe may be the reasons for the
killing – the first of a teacher by a pupil inside a British school.

Detective
Superintendent Simon Beldon of West Yorkshire Police said: 'The pupils
who witnessed this incident are still being interviewed by specialist
officers who are very experienced in dealing with child witnesses and
will ensure that their safety is paramount.

'This is clearly an unprecedented and tragic incident which has left the school and wider community in a state of shock.'

Grieving: Mrs Maguire's husband Don Maguire leaves the family home yesterday following the death of his wife. She would have spent the day with him on Monday but said she wanted to work on her day off to help children with their exams

Many of the tributes left for the popular Spanish teacher thanked her for her kindness and support shown to pupils at the school

Family: Mrs Maguire's daughter Kerry, 32, a trainee osteopath, was seen leaving the family home today

A candle burns next to a book of condolence for teacher Ann Maguire at Corpus Christi Catholic Church

POPE SENDS HIS SYMPATHIES

Pope Francis has expressed sympathy to the family of Ann Maguire and all those affected by her death in a message conveyed by the Vatican's Ambassador to Britain.

Archbishop Antonio Mennini, in a letter to the Diocese of Leeds, spoke of the 'spiritual closeness' of Pope Francis with all those affected by the tragedy including Mrs Maguire's family, friends, colleagues and the community of Corpus Christi Catholic College.

In a letter to the apostolic administrator of the diocese, Monsignor John Wilson, Archbishop Mennini asked for the message of 'sincere sympathy' to be conveyed on behalf of himself and the Pope.

'I assure you of my prayers for the repose of the soul of Mrs Maguire and for the consolation and strengthening of all those persons close to her and all those who mourn her sudden death,' Archbishop Mennini said.

'May the Lord grant her eternal rest and the reward of her life of dedication and of service to young people and to education.'

Police stressed that the school had no history of pupils carrying weapons.

The police 'safer schools officer' attached to Corpus Christi was at another school when the attack took place.

Around three quarters of the 1,000 pupils aged 11 to 16 turned up as usual yesterday.

There was a special assembly in the morning and counsellors were on hand to help with any pupils' concerns.

Martin Dowling, who is chairman of governors, said the reaction of the children had been amazing.

Headteacher Steve Mort defended the decision to stay open yesterday.

He said: 'Ann Maguire always put the needs of the children first. She was concerned about their welfare and safeguarding.

'And we are absolutely confident that Ann would have wanted the school to have been open today.' He praised her as the 'cornerstone of the school' who touched the hearts of generations of pupils.

These words were echoed outside the school gates, where pupils spanning four decades turned up to lay floral bouquets and praise 'simply the best' teacher around. She was described as a remarkable woman who not only taught languages and RE, but ran the choir, acted as an agony aunt and who was an undisputed mother figure to her pupils.

Chloe Ripley, 16, said there was a subdued atmosphere in class yesterday: 'Nobody was speaking, it was so sad. There have been a lot of tears.'

The suspect is believed to have also been assessed by a psychiatrist before being cleared to be questioned.

Mrs Maguire was married to Donald, 62,
a landscape gardener, and they have two children Kerry, 32, a trainee
osteopath, and Emma, 30, a dancer with the Royal Ballet.

They were all said to be too upset to make a public comment.

SUSPECT'S MOTHER IS AN MS SUFFERER, FRIENDS HAVE REVEALED

The mother of the schoolboy charged with murdering Ann Maguire has been suffering from multiple sclerosis, friends revealed last night.

They said she went on holiday before the tragedy without her 15-year-old son because the crippling neurological disease had left her needing to ‘get away from it all’.

The single mother, 47, was in Gran Canaria with her new partner when she was told her son had been arrested on Monday. She is believed to have flown back before he was formally charged yesterday.

Last night, the human resources manager and mother of two was said to have been a keen swimmer before being diagnosed with the incurable disease – which can cause extreme fatigue and difficulties with walking.

A friend of the mother said she was diagnosed with MS two years ago but continued to work full-time. Others said the condition had made it increasingly difficult for her to cope.

They said the caring and thoughtful woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faces ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’ and would be devastated at the murder charge.

One neighbour, who asked not to be named, said she had MS medication delivered to the £115,000 semi-detached home she shares with her 19-year-old son and her younger boy, who has type 1 diabetes. Another said she was a ‘lovely woman,’ who ‘lived for her work and her kids’.

The 15-year-old boy has lived on the road for about 12 years after his mother divorced his father, a 50-year-old council executive.